PORTSMOUTH — While Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank cod have been subject to severe catch limits as a result of New England Fisheries Management Council meetings last week, herring saw different results.

The herring population, which is doing well, saw a significant increase in quota allocation.

The Council allocated a total of 107,800 metric tons for the Atlantic Herring Fishery quota, which is 16,600 metric tons more than last year's quota of 91,200.

Patricia Fiorelli, public affairs officer with the New England Fisheries Management Council, said they expect approval from the National Marine Fishery Service on the new quota as soon as possible and it will be implemented in 2013.

Fiorelli also said the Council last week officially decided to examine catch limits for the Atlantic Herring Fishery for river herring, which applies to Alewife and Blueback herring.

“Because those species, which are managed, are in declining numbers, we will put some kind of limits on what can be taken by the Atlantic Herring Fishery,” she said.

However, no specific limitations have been decided at this time.

The Council last week also alerted the industry to the possibility that a portion of the costs for the At Sea Monitoring program may soon fall on the fishermen.

“We wanted them (fishermen) to be prepared,” said Maggie Mooney-Seus, communications officer at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Northeast Regional office.

The At Sea Monitoring program, which Mooney-Seus said the fishing industry requested, was put into place around 2010 and provides a “monitor” to accompany the fishermen to ensure they aren't catching protected species and that they're staying within their catch quotas.

Over the past year the program has been funded by congressional money, but that's come to an end.